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Top 4 Online Video Game Design Degree Programs of 2015

Video games are a powerful cultural force and a multi-billion dollar global industry. Recent statistics show that 58% of Americans play video games, and video game sales topped $10.5 billion in 2009.
This is good news for those interested in working in the video game industry as designers and programmers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineering and related jobs are among the occupations expect to grow 22% over the next decade, meaning job prospects should be excellent. The BLS expects the industry to add 222,600 jobs from 2012-2022.

The Value of a Video Game Design Degree

It is not necessary to have a degree in video game design to be successful in the field. Many video game designers and programmers do extremely well in the industry without a game design degree. Indeed, video game design programs are a relatively new phenomena. That said, things are rapidly becoming more competitive in the industry, and having a degree in game design from a respected and accredited school can help set you apart from the crowd. Among other things, it tells prospective employers that you are serious about your career as a game designer or programmer, have a broad understanding of the game development process, and have the stability and determination to finish a multi-year project (like a college degree).

The Advantages of an Online Video Game Design Degree

The most obvious advantage of getting a video game degree online is the flexibility and convenience provided by an online degree. Online students do not have to travel to campus and can complete their classes and coursework on their own time. This means online game design students can fit their degree around their employment and family responsibilities. Unlike in the recent past, students seeking an accredited online video game design degree program now have several high quality options to choose from. A number of the top video game design programs in the country are now offered completely online.

How We Ranked Online Video Game Design Degree Programs

Online schools and online degree programs vary widely in terms of quality, name recognition, and value. To assist those looking for quality, accredited online video game design programs, we put together this ranking of what we consider to be the very best online schools offering video game design degrees 2014. Our rankings are based on publicly available data evaluated according to several different criteria, including market reputation, accreditation, student satisfaction, ratio of students to instructors, and tuition. Most of the schools in our rankings are regionally accredited, the highest form of accreditation a school can achieve. To read more about our rankings philosophy, and find a list of our other top college and degree rankings, visit our rankings page.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design. Students have the opportunity to learn to design game play and backgrounds, create characters and environments and evaluate game products. By the end of this as little as 4-year program, students have a professional portfolio that they can use to showcase their knowledge and enter the game design industry in entry-level positions.

Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Management Information Systems – Gaming Design is designed to equip you to meet the growing need for highly trained professionals who will take the gaming industry to new levels. Special emphasis is placed on in-depth training in programming, 2D and 3D graphics and animation, and game development.

If you dream of creating compelling, interactive game experiences, Full Sail University’s online Game Design bachelor’s degree program can help you set your dream in motion. The program’s specialized curriculum focuses strongly on story development, the production needs of the industry, and gameplay. And, using Full Sail’s unique online platform, you’ll be able to engage with your classmates and instructors in the way that this highly collaborative industry depends upon.

DeVry University’s Game and Simulation Programming degree program prepares graduates to make an impact in the private and public video game and simulation software industry. Master the coding languages, visual design principles, and software methods used in the development of video games, crime scene reconstruction, corporate training software, and more. DeVry University partners with industry-leading companies like Vivendi/Universal to offer students experiential learning opportunities and networking contacts to potential employers around the world.